Marlinja Softener System
Upgrading softener system for the town of Marlinja.
Services
Softener system
Overview
Challenge
The Marlinja softener upgrade faced significant hurdles, including adapting standard designs to remote conditions, harsh climate impacts, and limited access during the wet season. Workforce shortages and the need for respectful community engagement added complexity to logistics and project delivery.
What we faced:
Configuration Barriers: Standard softener designs aren’t always suitable for remote environments, where maintenance access, climate, and resource availability can be limited.
Remote Conditions: Harsh climate, long travel times, and restricted access during the wet season.
Limited Local Trades: Scarcity of qualified tradespeople impacted consistency and required strategic workforce planning
Respectful Community Engagement: Working in remote communities requires strong stakeholder engagement and cultural awareness to ensure projects align with local expectations and minimise disruption.
Logistics For Remote Workforce: Providing comfortable accommodation and reliable access to fresh supplies in remote areas is essential to supporting our teams.
Solution
We overcame these challenges through tailored design solutions, detailed planning, and strong partnerships with local leaders. By combining technical expertise with cultural awareness and proactive logistics, we ensured a safe, efficient upgrade that delivers long-term benefits for the Marlinja community.
What we delivered?
Consultation and Custom Solutions: In consultation with the Client and Design Consultants, we tailor every design for simplicity, durability, and ease of maintenance. We use robust materials and chlorination dosing systems that are designed for long term serviceability.
Detailed Planning: Detailed project mapping, flexible scheduling, and local supplier partnerships keep work moving.
Building Workforce: We invest in local training, while rotating a core team of experienced tradespeople to maintain consistency.
Partnering With Leaders: We prioritise early consultation, clear communication, and collaboration with community leaders and Traditional Owners. Building trust and ensuring our work delivers long-term benefits for the people we serve.
Community-Backed Logistics: By securing local accommodation early, installing demountable camps when needed, or using transition houses. We partner with community providers to source fresh supplies and always support local businesses where we can. Forward planning is essential for smooth logistics.
"Owning a Tennant Creek property and living interstate doesn’t have to be stressful or a concern when you have the right people on your team. We use Irish and the beautiful Sarah from Barkly Plumbing to manage our plumbing maintenance needs and we are extremely satisfied with the results."
Together, with community, government and industry, we’re building the water and gas infrastructure the Northern Territory depends on.
